New Releases by Mark Billingham

The targeted murder of four officers is only the first in a series of attacks that leaves police scared, angry and, most disturbingly of all, vengeful.As Tom Thorne and Nicola Tanner dig into the reasons for the violence, a deeper darkness begins to emerge: the possibility that these murders are payback. The price paid for an unspeakable betrayal.To uncover the truth, Thorne will be forced to question everything he stands for. He can trust nobody, and the shocking secrets revealed by one terrible night will fracture his entire world.

A spate of brutal murders threatens the newfound happiness of "one of the most credible and engaging heroes in contemporary crime fiction" (Ian Rankin). Tom Thorne finally has it all. In Nicola Tanner and Phil Hendricks, Thorne has good friends by his side. His love life is newly reformed by a promising relationship and he is happy in the job he has devoted his life to. As he sets off hunting the woman responsible for a series of grisly murders, Thorne has no way of knowing that he will be plunged into a nightmare from which he may never wake. A nightmare that has a name. Thorne''s past threatens to catch up with him and a ruinous secret is about to be revealed. If he wants to save himself and his friends, he will have to do the unthinkable. Tom Thorne finally has a lot to lose. Praise for the Tom Thorne series "Morse, Rebus, and now Thorne. The next superstar detective is already with us—don''t miss him." —Lee Child "Billingham is a world-class writer and Tom Thorne is a wonderful creation. Rush to read these books." —Karin Slaughter "With each of his books, Mark Billingham gets better and better. These are stories and characters you don''t want to leave." —Michael Connelly "Mark Billingham has brought a rare and welcome blend of humanity, dimension, and excitement to the genre." —George Pelecanos "A fantastic thriller, combining a gripping plot and lead characters of remarkable depth . . . Readers who grab this one but aren''t familiar with its predecessors will be seeking them out. A series to savor." — Booklist (starred review)

Deszczowa noc w Londynie. Z jadącego z wyłączonymi światłami auta padają strzały do nadjeżdżającego z przeciwka samochodu, który gwałtownie skręca i wjeżdża na wysepkę przystanku autobusowego. Inicjacja nowego członka gangu kończy się śmiercią niewinnego człowieka. Tak się przynajmniej wydaje. Ale prawda jest o wiele bardziej mroczna i złowieszcza.

W Londynie ma miejsce seria samobójstw wśród starszych osób. Policja nie widzi w tym nic podejrzanego, zamyka jedną sprawę po drugiej. Tylko jeden człowiek podejrzewa, że w grę wchodzi coś bardziej złowieszczego. Inspektor Tom Thorne, przeniesiony niedawno karnie do służby mundurowej, ma przeczucie, że w tych zgonach ktoś maczał palce. Krok po kroku, narażając swą i tak już mocno nadszarpniętą reputację, podupadającą karierę i ledwie rozpoczęty nowy związek oraz przyjaźń i dalsze kariery swych nielicznych przyjaciół, rusza tropem mordercy. Natrafia na sławną sprawę sprzed lat i zatwardziałego londyńskiego gangstera, który nie zawaha się przed niczym, aby dopełnić krwawej zemsty. To człowiek niemający nic do stracenia i sporą listę ofiar do zlikwidowania. Co więcej, zna sposób, aby zmusić tych ludzi, aby sami odebrali sobie życie... W tej rozgrywce prócz zimnej krwi Thorne''owi potrzebna będzie zwłaszcza siła perswazji.

En netop løsladt fange går målrettet og nådesløst efter at straffe de mennesker, der er skyld i hans ulykke: den lange fængselsstraf og tabet af hans familie. Men hvorfor fotograferer han sine hævnaktioner og sender billederne til kriminalkommissær Tom Thorne? Svaret skal findes et sted i Thornes fortid. Den mest kyniske psykopat, Thorne nogensinde har mødt, har tilsyneladende ikke mistet sin uhyggelige evne til at manipulere med sine omgivelser – og han har ikke opgivet at få ram på den mand, der sendte ham bag tremmer. Opklaringen af sagen er et kapløb med tiden. For Thorne bliver det også et gensyn med fortidens rædsler.

Raymond Garvey w okrutny sposób zamordował kilka kobiet. Schwytany i osadzony w więzieniu umiera po nieudanej operacji guza mózgu. Jego historia, krwawa i brutalna, daje początek nowej serii zabójstw. Piętnaście lat później pojawia się kolejny morderca, który bierze za cel dzieci ofiar Gurveya. Jest przebiegły, bezlitosny i niepohamowany, a na miejscu zbrodni pozostawia fragmenty starego rentgenowskiego zdjęcia. Inspektor Tom Thorne, który dochodzi do siebie po rodzinnej tragedii, musi jak najszybciej odnaleźć i zapewnić bezpieczeństwo pozostałym przy życiu dzieciom i odkryć tożsamość zwyrodnialca – zuchwałego, genialnego seryjnego zabójcy, z jakim Thorne nie miał wcześniej do czynienia. W tej grze nic nie jest tym, czym się wydaje...

Een man verbrandt levend in een auto. Hij is het slachtoffer van professionele huurmoordenaars. De aanwijzingen die worden gevonden maken de vrouw van de vermoorde man, Donna Langford, verdacht. Ze lijkt de moordenaars te hebben ingehuurd en wordt schuldig bevonden aan samenzwering tot moord. Een decennium gaat voorbij. Vlak voor haar vrijlating krijgt Donna een recente foto toegestuurd van haar vermoorde man. Is hij wel dood? En als dat niet zo is, van wie was dan het verkoolde lichaam dat werd gevonden in de uitgebrande Jaguar? Kort daarna neemt ene Anna Carpenter contact op met rechercheur Tom Thorne. Zij verdient haar geld als ''nepprostituee'' voor een detectivebureau, waar ze mannen in de val moet laten lopen – en haat haar werk. Ze voelt zich verbonden met het lot van Donna en vraagt Thorne om hulp. Hij weigert haar te helpen, totdat blijkt dat Alan Langford nog leeft en wraak wil, op de ergste manier mogelijk.

Marcus Brooks kończy właśnie odsiadkę za zbrodnię, której nie popełnił. Niecierpliwie oczekuje na powrót do życia, do rodziny... Kilka dni przed opuszczeniem zakładu karnego otrzymuje wiadomość, że jego żona i dziecko zginęli, potrąceni na pasach przez samochód skradziony przez kilku nastolatków z gangu. Od tej pory przyświeca mu tylko jeden cel: dopaść tych, którzy są odpowiedzialni za śmierć jego bliskich, i tych, którzy wrobili go w morderstwo. Prowadzący sprawę detektyw inspektor Tom Thorne nie spodziewa się, że dzięki niej zetknie się z mrocznym koszmarem z przeszłości i będzie miał okazję uregulować rachunki za niedawną, rodzinną tragedię.

Wenn ein Sechzehnjähriger verschwindet, ist das nicht automatisch ein Fall für die Mordkommission der Londoner Polizei. Da seine Vorgesetzten Detective Tom Thorne aber für eine Weile aus dem Weg haben wollen, findet sich dieser plötzlich in einem ganz neuen Wirkungsfeld wieder. Doch es dauert nicht lange, bis neben etlichen Ungereimtheiten auch die erste Leiche auftaucht – und der raubeinige Ermittler einmal mehr in einem tödlichen Rennen gegen die Zeit steht ...

Als er zu einem Tatort in ein heruntergekommenes Londoner Hotel gerufen wird, ahnt Detective Tom Thorne noch nicht, dass er der gefährlichsten Herausforderung seiner bisherigen Laufbahn gegenübersteht. Doch schon bald häufen sich die Mordfälle, und das Muster ist stets dasselbe: Bei den Opfern handelt es sich um kürzlich entlassenen Häftlinge, die sich offenbar freiwillig zu ihrem Rendezvous mit dem Tod begeben haben – und jedes Mal hat bereits jemand den Blumenschmuck für die Bestattung geordert ...

Het motief voor de eerste moord was een raadsel. Tot iemand uit Tom Thornes team van de afdeling Ernstige delicten een stapel brieven vond, gericht aan het slachtoffer, een man die net uit de gevangenis was gekomen. Het was duidelijk dat hij in de val was gelokt. Bij de tweede moord '' weer op een ex-gevangene '' was niet zozeer het motief een probleem, als wel de vraag wie toegang had tot de databank met de gegevens van gevangenen. Werkt de dader bij de politie? Of is het een hulpverlener met een eigen wraakagenda? In ieder geval staat vast dat alle slachtoffers '' want er volgen er meer '' veroordeeld waren wegens verkrachting. In deze derde thriller van Mark Billingham is de hoofdrol weer voor inspecteur Tom Thorne en Dave Holland. Hun team wordt nu aangevuld met een gepensioneerde politievrouw, die is overgehaald om opnieuw aan het werk te gaan in het kader van een campagne om het personeelstekort bij de politie op te vangen.

Een serial killer-thriller met een moordend tempo! Carol Garner, een achtentwintigjarige lerares, is voor het laatst gezien op Euston Station, Londen, na een bezoek aan haar ouders. Twee dagen later wordt ze dood gevonden. Ze is gewurgd, in het bijzijn van haar zoontje van drie. Er is mogelijk sprake van een seriemoordenaar, want aan de andere kant van de stad is ook een vrouw vermoord, vrijwel op hetzelfde tijdstip en op precies dezelfde manier. Maar inspecteur Tom Thorne van de afdeling Ernstige delicten heeft zo zijn twijfels. Hoe dieper hij en zijn team in de zaken duiken, hoe meer hij ervan overtuigd raakt dat het niet om één moordenaar gaat, maar om twee. De vraag is echter: wie van de twee is het brein? En wat is de rol van de mysterieuze Karen? Gedreven door de overtuiging dat er op korte termijn nieuwe slachtoffers zullen vallen kiest Tom Thorne voor een zeer riskante methode.

Strengthen students'' understanding of key OCR GCSE topics and develop the vital skills required to attain the best results possible in the exams, with this expert-written Student Workbook. Written by experienced examiner Mark Billingham, this write-in Student Workbook: - Actively develops knowledge and the ability to recall information with consolidation questions and short topic summaries - Reinforces understanding and boosts confidence with exam-style practice questions and clear spotlight of the Assessment Objectives - Encourages independent learning as students can use the Workbook at home or in class, throughout the course or for last-minute revision, with answers to tasks and activities supplied online

De Britse rechercheur Tom Thorne is te vaak over de schreef gegaan en draagt daarom weer het politie-uniform. Hij draait zware diensten: hij wordt ingezet op straat en moet bekeuringen uitschrijven of ingrijpen bij vechtpartijen in het uitgaansleven. Als een zelfmoord van een ouder echtpaar in Toms ogen te makkelijk opzij wordt geschoven, duikt hij in zijn vrije tijd dieper in de zaak. Hij moet zijn netwerk gebruiken om toegang te krijgen tot informatiesystemen binnen de recherche, waarmee hij niet alleen zijn eigen baan op het spel zet, maar ook die van degenen die het dichtst bij hem staan. Wie zit er achter de moorden en wat voor moordenaar is in staat anderen zich het eigen leven te laten ontnemen?

Two boys run into the woods—but only one returns—in this new mystery from the award-winning "first-rate British crime writer" ( The Washington Post). In the summer of 1996, two boys run from a playground into the adjoining woods, but only one comes out. DS Tom Thorne takes on the case—which quickly spirals out of control when two people connected to the missing boy are murdered. As London prepares to host the European Soccer Championships, Thorne fights to keep on top of a baffling investigation while also dealing with the ugly fallout of his broken marriage . . . A prequel to Mark Billingham''s acclaimed debut Sleepyhead―which the Sunday Times voted one of the 100 books that shaped the decade―this chilling, compelling novel is the latest in "a series to savor" ( Booklist). "With each of his books, Mark Billingham gets better and better. These are stories and characters you don''t want to leave." ―Michael Connelly, author of the Harry Bosch series "Mark Billingham has brought a rare and welcome blend of humanity, dimension, and excitement to the genre." ―George Pelecanos, bestselling author and Emmy-nominated writer

''The SAS and all it stands for is exemplified in men such as Mark ''Billy'' Billingham. They are the backbone of the British military and I for one am thankful he is on our side!'' - Sir Ranulph Fiennes ''Billy is inspirational and always humble. A giant of a man!'' - Bear Grylls ''The most experienced Special Forces soldier in recent memory. The Hard Way is brutally brilliant.'' - Tom Marcus, Number One bestselling author of Soldier Spy Billy Billingham grew up tough; a grim future ahead of him offering little respite from the hostile streets he walked. Leaving school at eleven years of age, the threat of borstal hanging over his head, running with gangs in Birmingham, and almost being killed in a knife fight eventually led to Billy discovering the British armed forces at sixteen years of age. It would be the making of him. Billingham would graduate from the Royal Marine cadets to enlisting with the Parachute Regiment in 1983, where he would serve with distinction as a Patrol Commander and expert sniper. In 1991 he took on an even bigger challenge - taking the SAS course - the fearsome and secretive elite special forces unit with a well-won reputation for excellence in operating in extreme and hazardous conditions. He excelled in this life, rising to the rank of sergeant major for the regiment, and undertaking dozens of classified and extremely dangerous missions. He would ultimately serve seventeen years with the SAS, serving in countless war zones, winning a commendation for bravery and being awarded the MBE. After leaving the army he would embrace the life of a bodyguard to Hollywood stars such as Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Sir Michael Caine, Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe, before being recruited as one of the lead instructors on SAS - Who Dares Wins for television. Billy is a highly-decorated veteran; with a reputation for excellence, honesty and integrity not only supporting his comrades Ant Middleton, Jason Fox and Ollie Ollerton, but equally intimidating and inspiring the contestants who take on the gruelling challenges each week. The Hard Way details Billy''s story thus far, but will also educate and enthral those wishing to seek a challenge and conquer it - the SAS way.

The sixteenth book in the Tom Thorne series, from bestselling author Mark Billingham. ''Hugely intelligent and authentic'' BELINDA BAUER, AUTHOR OF SNAP She says she''s an ordinary mother. He knows a liar when he sees one. Sarah thinks of herself as a normal single mum. It''s what she wants others to think of her. But the truth is, she needs something new, something thrilling. Meanwhile, DI Tom Thorne is investigating a woman''s suicide, convinced she was driven to do it by a man who preys on vulnerable women. A man who is about to change Sarah''s life. From number one, five-million-copy bestseller Mark Billingham comes a breathless new thriller starring Thorne and Tanner that readers will devour. PRAISE FOR MARK BILLINGHAM ''One of the great series of British crime fiction'' THE TIMES ''An unconventional literary superstar'' MAIL ON SUNDAY ''Billingham is a world-class writer'' KARIN SLAUGHTER ''A new Mark Billingham is always a treat'' SUSIE STEINER ''Finely paced and polished procedural, with twists and turns galore'' CARA HUNTER ''Perfectly executed and with a thoroughly unnerving twist'' GUARDIAN ''Thorne is a terrific invention'' IRISH INDEPENDENT ''Mark Billingham gets better and better'' MICHAEL CONNELLY

"T he action moves swiftly toward a big twist and the satisfying conclusion . . . shows why Billingham stands at the forefront of British crime authors" ( Publishers Weekly). Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl and Sharp Objects, has called Mark Billingham "one of the most consistently entertaining, insightful crime writers working today," and this novel brings together his popular detective Tom Thorne and straitlaced DI Nicola Tanner on a pair of lethally high-stakes cases. While Tanner investigates the deadly spread of a dangerous new drug, Thorne is handed a case that he doesn''t take too seriously—until a spate of animal killings points to the work of a serial murderer. When the two cases come together unexpectedly, both Thorne and Tanner must risk everything to catch two very different killers. "Morse, Rebus, and now Thorne. The next superstar detective is already with us―don''t miss him." ―Lee Child, author of the Jack Reacher series "Tom Thorne [is] worth getting to know." — The Washington Post

Help students to build their subject knowledge and understanding with activities, guidance and assessment preparation tailored to the 2017 OCR requirements and brought to you by subject specialist and OCR''s Publishing Partner for GCSE Psychology. - Prepare students for assessment with skills-building activities and practice questions developed for the new specification. - Progressively develop students'' subject knowledge through accessible diagrams and key content summaries that aid understanding and help weaker students access the main points. - Build conceptual understanding and critical thinking skills with a wealth of targeted activities. - Extend learning and enhance responses with extension questions, stimulus material and suggestions for further reading. - Consolidate understanding of technical vocabulary and core concepts through accessible explanations of key terms. Contents Introduction 1. Criminal Psychology 2. Development 3. Psychological problems 4. Social influence 5. Memory 6. Sleep and Dreaming 7. Research Methods Answers

In this "chilling and moving" international bestseller, two of London''s toughest detectives investigate the savage world of honor killings ( The Times, London). In Love Like Blood, DI Tom Thorne, "the next superstar detective," teams up with perfectionist DI Nicola Tanner, the protagonist of Billingham''s acclaimed stand-alone thriller Die of Shame (Lee Child). When her domestic partner Susan is brutally murdered, Nicola Tanner is convinced that she was the intended target. The murderer''s motive is likely connected to her recent work on a string of cold case honor killings. Despite being placed on leave, Tanner insists on pursuing justice for Susan—and she turns to fellow DI Tom Thorne for help. Agreeing to take the case, Thorne quickly finds that working in such controversial territory among London''s Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh communities can be dangerous in more ways than one. But when a young Bangladeshi couple goes missing, Tanner and Thorne must put everything on the line to investigate a case that is anything but cold. "Brilliant." — The Independent "Groundbreaking . . . a gripping, unsensational take on a type of crime that is happening more frequently than many of us realize." — The Sunday Times

Perfect strangers. A perfect vacation. The perfect murder. . . . "Hugely effective and entertaining [with] many twists and shocks" ( The Times, London). Three British couples meet around the pool on their Florida holiday and become fast friends. But on Easter Sunday, the last day of their vacation, tragedy strikes: The fourteen-year-old daughter of an American vacationer goes missing, and her body is later found floating in the mangroves. When the shocked couples return home to the United Kingdom, they remain in contact, and over the course of three increasingly fraught dinner parties they come to know one another better. But they don''t always like what they find. Buried beneath these apparently normal exteriors are some unusual kinks and unpleasant vices. Then, a second girl goes missing, in Kent—not far from where the couples live. Could it be that one of these six has a secret far darker than anybody can imagine? Ambitiously plotted and laced with dark humor, Rush of Blood is a "sizzling thriller" by the international bestselling author of the Tom Thorne Novels ( The Globe and Mail, Toronto).

Fünf Menschen, die sich zufällig begegnen, bilden einen Kreis. Jeder von ihnen hat ein dunkles Geheimnis. Doch eines davon ist schwarz wie die Nacht.Fünf Menschen, die unterschiedlicher nicht sein könnten, versammeln sich jeden Montag im selben Haus. Sie alle sind Verlorene, die in ihrem Leben Schande auf sich geladen haben und sich nun auf der Suche nach Hilfe zufällig begegnet sind. In ihrer Mitte sitzt der Therapeut Tony De Silva, der eine ganz eigene Vergangenheit hat. In ihrem Kreis offenbaren sich die fünf gegenseitig ihre dunkelsten Geheimnisse. Dabei gibt es nur eine Regel: Nichts von dem, was zwischen ihnen besprochen wird, darf jemals nach außen dringen. Selbst als einer der fünf ermordet aufgefunden wird, bricht keiner sein Schweigen. Und doch ist nichts mehr wie zuvor. Denn zum Kreis gehört nun auch ein Mörder – der alles über die anderen weiß.

A brutal murder casts suspicion on a London therapy group in this thriller from the author of The Bones Beneath: "One of my favorite new writers" (Harlan Coben). Every Monday evening, six people gather in a smart North London house to talk about shame. Among them are a grieving surgeon, a betrayed housewife, a taunting gay model, a barely recovered heroin addict. All they have in common is a history of pain and compulsions—until they''re linked by the brutal murder of one of their members. Det. Inspector Nicola Tanner is drawn into this intimate circle to find the killer. Unfortunately, not a single one of them is willing to share. Now it''s up to Tanner to delve into their pasts on her own. But what secret could be so shameful as to kill for it? Or die for it? And how can she possibly find the truth when lies and denial are second nature to her suspects? From British thriller master Mark Billingham comes "one of the best crime novels of the year . . . Shocking, frightening, gripping" ( The Independent). "Billingham is one of the most consistently entertaining, insightful crime writers working today." —Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl "Keeps the reader guessing, and second-guessing." — Tampa Bay Times

Two British police detectives take on a case close to home: "One of the most consistently entertaining, insightful crime writers working today" (Gillian Flynn). One of Entertainment Weekly''s "10 Great Summer Thrillers" Tom Thorne is on holiday with his girlfriend, DS Helen Weeks, when two girls are abducted in Helen''s hometown in Warwickshire. When a body is discovered and a man is arrested, Helen recognizes the suspect''s wife as an old school friend, and reluctantly returns home for the first time in twenty-five years to lend her support. As his partner faces up to a past she has tried desperately to forget and a media storm engulfs the town, Thorne becomes convinced that, despite overwhelming evidence of his guilt, the police have got the wrong man. There is still an extremely clever killer on the loose—and a missing girl who Thorne believes might still be alive . . . "Some ingenious forensic footwork. What is most impressive about the novel, however, is the astute observation of the beleaguered Bates family, who turn in on themselves as the inhabitants of the town turn on them." — The Guardian

On an island off the Welsh coast, I nspector Thorne faces a sadistic adversary who''ll "certainly make your skin crawl" ( The New York Times Book Review) . Who''d trust a depraved killer like Stuart Nicklin? Tom Thorne, the DI who put him away, has to. Nicklin has promised to bring closure to the grieving mother of one of his first victims by finally revealing where the body can be found. But there''s just one condition: Thorne must accompany him to the burial ground—the remote Bardsey Island, which is cut off from the mainland of Wales in more ways than one. Nicklin is in cuffs, surrounded by authorities, and under watchful eye. What could go wrong? As the macabre outing begins, so do Nicklin''s mind games—and it becomes clear that his motives are far from altruistic. There are more than bones buried on the storm-shrouded island. There are secrets, too. And as Thorne becomes entangled in the twisted schemes of a manipulative psychopath, he''ll be left with the most terrible choice he''s ever had to make. Gillian Flynn calls Mark Billingham "one of the most consistently entertaining, insightful crime writers working today"—and in The Bones Beneath he makes sure "readers'' nerves will be shredded . . . [in] a tour de force of suspense" ( Kirkus Reviews, starred review). "Chilling . . . Billingham certainly knows how to make those pages turn even while your stomach churns." — Publishers Weekly "Billingham is a world-class writer and Tom Thorne is a wonderful creation. Rush to read these books." —Karin Slaughter, New York Times–bestselling author

A murder-for-hire goes wrong in this thriller by "one of the most consistently entertaining, insightful crime writers working today" (Gillian Flynn). After Alan Langford''s charred remains were found in his burnt-out Jaguar, his abused, long-suffering wife, Donna, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and sentenced to ten years at Wakefield Prison. It was worth the time. But shortly before her release, Donna receives a nasty shock: an anonymous letter containing a recent photo of her husband—the man she despised and feared, the man she paid to have killed, the man she''s now begging London inspector Tom Thorne to find. Even for a seasoned DI like Thorne, this is a first: tracking a man who''s come back from the dead. But when Donna''s daughter suddenly disappears, Thorne finds himself following two trails of revenge and double cross. And they''re both leading into the menacing shadow of a killer who wants the case buried for good. With his multiple award-winning series, "Mark Billingham has brought a rare and welcome blend of humanity, dimension, and excitement to the genre" (George Pelecanos). From the Dead is not only "a good crime story, but . . . [a] novel . . .about the complexities and pitfalls of love" ( The Washington Post). "Engrossing . . . chillingly clever." — Publishers Weekly "Mark Billingham is one of my favorite new writers." —Harlan Coben "Tom Thorne is a wonderful creation. Rush to read these books." —Karin Slaughter, New York Times–bestselling author

"The next superstar detective" is back to stop a serial killer with a bizarre pattern—his victims are all taking their own lives (Lee Child). Recently demoted for stepping out of line once too often, prickly inspector Tom Thorne is convinced that a spate of suicides among the elderly in south London is something more sinister. When his concerns are dismissed by former colleagues at the CID, and even by his patient girlfriend, Thorne can only trust himself and his best friend—gay pub-crawling pathologist Phil Hendricks—with his suspicions of murder. Thorne draws a chilling connection between the deaths and a controversial case three decades old. But by going solo with his investigation, he not only risks the lives of those closest to him, but also further endangers those being targeted by a deranged killer—a man with the power and cold-blooded motives to coerce his vulnerable victims toward a breathtaking end. "Tom Thorne, the hero of a well-groomed series of police procedurals" by multiple award-winning Mark Billingham, returns—and he''s "on the hunt for a killer who proves to be extremely clever and really, really mean" ( The New York Times Book Review). "One of the most consistently entertaining, insightful crime writers working today." —Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl "Fiendishly clever . . . with the last sharp twist saved for the final page." — Tampa Bay Times

The Hostage - Police Officer Helen Weeks walks into her local newsagent''s on her way to work. It''s the last place she expects to be met with violence, but she comes face to face with a gunman. The Demand -The crazed hostage-taker is desperate to find out what happened to his son, who died in youth custody. By holding the Police Officer at gunpoint he forces the one man who knows the most about the case to step forward. That man is DI Tom Thorne. The Twist - While Helen fights to stay alive and the body-count rises, DI Tom Thorne must race against time if he is to bring a killer to justice and save a young mother''s life.